James Bond drives a Bentley in new Carte Blanche novel

One of the settings for the new James Bond novel is Dubai

James Bond returns to his south Cheshire motoring roots in the forthcoming novel by American thriller writer Jeffery Deaver.

Entitled Carte Blanche, it features the secret agent behind the wheels of a Bentley GT Continental.

In the original books, Bond's preference has historically been firmly with Bentleys, which are made in Crewe.

In many of the Bond films by contrast, the spy is closely associated with Aston Martin cars.

Jeffery Deaver is probably best known for The Bone Collector which was turned into a film starring Denzel Washington.

Supercharged racer

In the first Bond novel by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale, James drives one of the last of the 4 1/2 litre Bentleys. The supercharged version, known as the 'blower Bentley', was specifically built for racing.

The same car also turns up in the book of Moonraker, where it is damaged beyond repair. A shame really, because only 55 were ever made.

At the end of Moonraker, Bond purchases his second Bentley, a new 1953 Mark VI. But it is not mentioned in subsequent novels.

In 1961, James Bond's final Bentley appears in the Thunderball book. It is a Mark II Continental with the R-Type chassis and which he lovingly christens "the locomotive".

Any colour - so long as it's grey

His cars were also in battleship grey - the colour of choice for most of Bond's cars, irrespective of make.

Ian Fleming wrote 14 James Bond books. Fleming's other works include the children's favourite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Carte Blanche is due to be published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK on 26 May, a few days before the anniversary of Fleming's birthday.

It has been commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd which looks after the literary James Bond brand.